Scripture Daily

Context No. 265 of 4322 · Exodus

Context · Reflection

Exodus 31:1-11: in context

1The LORD spoke to Moses, saying, 2“Behold, I have called by name Bezalel the son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah. 3I have filled him with the Spirit of God, in wisdom, and in understanding, and in knowledge, and in all kinds of workmanship, 4to devise skillful works, to work in gold, and in silver, and in bronze, 5and in cutting of stones for setting, and in carving of wood, to work in all kinds of workmanship. 6Behold, I myself have appointed with him Oholiab, the son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan; and in the heart of all who are wise-hearted I have put wisdom, that they may make all that I have commanded you: 7the Tent of Meeting, the ark of the covenant, the mercy seat that is on it, all the furniture of the Tent, 8the table and its vessels, the pure lamp stand with all its vessels, the altar of incense, 9the altar of burnt offering with all its vessels, the basin and its base, 10the finely worked garments—the holy garments for Aaron the priest, the garments of his sons to minister in the priest’s office— 11the anointing oil, and the incense of sweet spices for the holy place: according to all that I have commanded you they shall do.”

God has been giving Moses the detailed plans for the tabernacle, the tent where Israel will meet him, and this passage answers a practical question: who is going to build it? The way God describes the builder is the surprising part, and it is easy to read past if you do not know what is first happening here.

Behold, God says, I have called by name Bezalel, and I have filled him with the Spirit of God, in wisdom and understanding and knowledge and all kinds of craftsmanship, to design works in gold and silver and bronze, to cut stones and carve wood. This is the first time in the whole Bible that anyone is said to be filled with the Spirit of God, and it is not a prophet or a priest or a king. It is a craftsman, and the gifting is for the work of his hands. God calls him by name, appoints Oholiab alongside him, and says that in the hearts of all who are skilled he has put wisdom, so that they can make what he commanded. The metalworker, the stonecutter, the weaver, the carver, these are the people God's Spirit fills to build the holy place.

It is a quiet correction to the idea that skilled, physical work is somehow lower than spiritual work. The sacred tent was made by artisans God had gifted and named, and their craft was itself a calling from the Spirit. What skill of mine have I filed under merely practical or ordinary, that might actually be a gift given to me for making something well?

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